Ilocanos dance to mark 20 years
“Dance is a reflection of the gracious ways of the Ilocano” - Mars Cavestany
And so the Ilocanos in Sydney grooved all night to the rhythms of the band to celebrate 20 Years of Ilocanos in Oz!
To dance aficionados and fun-loving Filipino Australians like me, the anniversary celebration of the Ilocano Association (IAA) last August 14 at the Blacktown RSL was a night to remember.
Heralding the start of the evening‘s festivities were the IAA officers – donned with Philippine native costumes and hands on their hearts, their voices resonating Advance Australia Fair and Lupang Hinirang.
After the ceremonial national anthem singing, welcome address by the association’s incumbent president Kate Roc-Andres, and cutting of ceremonial anniversary cake by past IAA presidents, the rest of the evening was non-stop pure entertainment.
- A song and dance number by Albert Frias and the recent Silver Medal winners of the World Gay Games in Cologne, Germany, Albert Dimarucut and Brian Lorenz Babon.
- Song renditions by Ms Marilyn Mendez
- A Rumba dance exhibition by this writer with Neale Byrnes, an international dance champion and director of Australia’s Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing.
- A comedy skit, “Who’s Going to Wash the Dishes” devised and directed by Mars Cavestany
Emceeing for the evening were Rod Dingle and Kathryn Carorasan. A live 2-person band provided dance music for the evening.
** Ofelia Kasilag is a daughter of Ilocandia and founding member of dance group Hot Mamaz.
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- Brian Lorenz Babon and Albert Dimarcut
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- IAA officers, members and friends dancing the night away
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- Dads & Estie Morales, Luzette & Romy Saez, Joey & Beth Yap
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- IAA president Kate Andres (third from left) with other officers and members.
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- Mars Cavestany (left-most) producer of a comedy skit called “Who’s Washing the Dishes” – with Albert Dimarucut, Cita Hoersch, Brian Lorenz Babon, and other ILocano performers.
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- Ofelia (Baby K) Kasilag and Neale Byrnes dancing the Rumba.
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- Emcees Rod Dingle and Kathryn Carorasan
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- Rommel Catap leading the line dance of revellers
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- Top: Neria Soliman, Mars Cavestany, Caroline Cardos, Josie & Gerry Musa. Bottom: Lillian de los Reyes (third from left), Brian Lorenz Babon, Kate Andres, Tourism Attache Lito Jones, Consul Anthony Reyes, Dr. Cora Francisco
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Very well written.
Thank you, Mars! The IAA is lucky to have a great artist like you in their midst. Ilocanos in Oz 20 Years Anniversary Ball was indeed a Night to Remember!
Thank you for writing about our IAA 20th Anniversary Celebration – and including those beautiful photos. We had a lovely time.
Thank you for giving me the honour and the privilege to write for the IAA and to do the photo/video coverage. I am a daughter of Ilocandia and proud to be one. My rumba dance performance for the Ilocanos came from the heart.
I would like to mention that the photography team consisted of Mr. Bernie Bautista and myself. Thank you, Bernie, for the professional coverage of the Ilocanos in Oz Anniversary Celebration.
naimbag nga aldaw! I will be commencing my studies at flinders universty this feburary 2011. where could i find ilocanos in adelaide?
What a wonderful celebration!
Looking for the next celebration of IAA.
Well done and congratulations to the organisers..